Divot

Derek Andersen

Divot brings you weekly conversations with the people building the future—founders, creators, athletes, and visionaries pushing the limits of business, technology, sports, and entertainment. We go beyond success stories to explore the real moments that define a journey—the risks, the failures, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that can help you on your path. Stories of people making their mark, and how you can too. New episodes every Wednesday. #DivotPodcast #Business #Tech #Sports #Entertainment #Innovation

  1. 2d ago

    #61: He Built Apple's First Computers for $3 an Hour. Steve Jobs Never Gave Him Stock

    Daniel Kottke met Steve Jobs at Reed College in 1972, traveled with him to India, and spent the summer of 1976 hand-assembling the very first Apple computers in the Jobs family garage in Cupertino, for $3 an hour. He was among Apple's earliest employees, hand-wired the Macintosh prototypes, and left his signature cast inside every original Mac ever made. Apple is now worth $5 trillion. In this episode with Derek Andersen, Daniel reveals what Steve Jobs was really like before Apple: the India trip, Steve's unexplained three-day disappearance in the Himalayas, and the private spiritual life behind the man. He walks through the Apple IPO stock option situation, why Steve, as head of the compensation committee, refused to discuss it, and how Steve Wozniak later quietly made it right. The conversation goes deeper than Apple's mythology. Daniel reflects on what it means to be present at the birth of something historic and still leave without the rewards others received, and how a lifetime of curiosity became a richer kind of wealth than any stock certificate. "Luck often shows up wearing overalls, looking like hard work." Follow Daniel - X (Twitter): https://x.com/dkottkeFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners:Google for StartupsIf you’re building applications with generative media or considering it, Google just released a brand-new technical guide. You can download it at https://goo.gle/genmediaguide Timestamps:00:01:58 — How Daniel Kottke First Met Steve Jobs00:06:33 — Why Steve Jobs Kept Everything Secret00:10:05 — The India Trip That Shaped Steve Jobs00:17:07 — Why Steve Jobs Spent $1,000 on Primal Therapy00:21:36 — Lost in Delhi: Steve Had Shaved His Head00:23:55 — Steve Left for Three Days and Never Said Where00:27:18 — Inside the Apple Garage in Summer 197600:29:15 — Who Really Worked in the Apple Garage00:32:25 — How Wozniak Built Two Computers Simultaneously00:38:10 — The Homebrew Club and Apple's First $25,000 Sale00:45:28 — Why Steve Jobs Refused to Discuss His Stock00:49:22 — How Wozniak Gave What Steve Jobs Never Would00:55:25 — What Daniel Would Tell Every Young Founder Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#SteveJobs #Apple #AppleHistory #DanielKottke #SiliconValley #AppleGarage #SteveWozniak #HomebrewComputerClub #AppleFoundingStory #TechHistory #SiliconValleyHistory #Entrepreneurship #FounderStory #Divot

    #61: He Built Apple's First Computers for $3 an Hour. Steve Jobs Never Gave Him Stock

  2. Aug 5

    #60: Grant Cardone: The Mindset That Built $4 Billion From Zero & Why Ambition Is a Moral Obligation

    Grant Cardone grew up in the bayous of Louisiana with no money, no connections, and no plan, and spent a decade battling drug addiction before rebuilding from scratch. Today, his privately held companies generate $750 million in gross annual revenue, Cardone Capital manages more than 15,000 apartment units, and the 10X brand has shaped how millions of founders think about ambition and scale. In this episode with Derek Andersen, Grant explains why failing to pursue massive success is somewhat unethical, why the worst advice he ever took came from someone who stopped growing, and how he combines real estate with Bitcoin to hit bigger targets. He also breaks down the twice-daily goal-writing practice, dreams, not to-do lists, that he credits with materializing everything he has ever put on a vision board. The conversation goes deeper than ambition. Grant opens up about losing his father at 10 and his brother at 20, fighting addiction from 15 to 25, and surviving three overdoses. What emerges is a portrait of someone who had every reason to stop, and chose to build instead. Where you are going always matters more than where you are. Follow Grant - X (Twitter): https://x.com/GrantCardone Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners: Google for Startups If you’re building applications with generative media or considering it, Google just released a brand-new technical guide. You can download it at https://goo.gle/genmediaguide Timestamps: 00:01:47 — Why Grant Cardone Avoids Silicon Valley at All Costs 00:04:28 — The First Rule of All Success: Just Show Up 00:08:21 — The Soil You Grow In: Why Your Environment Shapes Your Ceiling 00:20:52 — How to Create an Experience 34,000 People Pay For 00:44:06 — Why Failing to Pursue Massive Success Is Unethical 00:46:25 — The Revenue Reveal: $750M Gross and $4 Billion in Value 00:49:24 — The Advice That Cost Him Millions in Real Estate 00:55:28 — Why Thinking Small Is Still Going to Cost You Everything 00:57:49 — The Real Estate-Bitcoin Hybrid Strategy Explained 00:59:24 — Writing Goals Twice a Day: Dreams, Not To-Do Lists 01:10:41 — The Losses That Built Everything He Has Today Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags: #GrantCardone #10X #Divot #DivotPodcast #CardoneCapital #10XRule #RealEstate #Bitcoin #Entrepreneurship #Founder #GoalSetting #10XGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #BigThinking #UndercoverBillionaire

    #60: Grant Cardone: The Mindset That Built $4 Billion From Zero & Why Ambition Is a Moral Obligation

  3. Jul 29

    #59: Mark Manson: 20 Million Books, an AI Startup, and Why Most Therapists Don't Actually Help

    Mark Manson is a three-time NYT number one bestselling author whose book "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" has sold more than 20 million copies across 65 languages, hitting number one in 14 countries. He co-wrote Will Smith's memoir and recently co-founded Purpose, an AI mental health startup that hit seven-figure revenue in 12 days. In this episode with Derek Andersen, Mark breaks down the business mechanics behind 20 million books sold, why he treats every book as a product, why aspiring authors must study copywriting, and what deep market research gave "The Subtle Art" its best shot at success. He also explains why the therapy market is fundamentally broken and what his AI startup Purpose is doing to fix it. The conversation goes deeper into Mark's philosophy on happiness, why chasing it makes you less happy, why struggle is not something to avoid but to choose deliberately, and how his most meaningful career moments came through things he would never willingly repeat. Ultimately, this is a conversation about building work that lasts and a life that means something. Follow Mark - X (Twitter): https://x.com/Markmanson Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners: Google for Startups If you’re building applications with generative media or considering it, Google just released brand-new technical guide. You can download it at https://goo.gle/genmediaguide Timestamps: 00:01:39 — Why He Turned His Attention to AI Mental Health 00:06:09 — Meeting His Co-Founder at a Poker Game 00:10:47 — How Purpose Hit 7 Figures in 12 Days 00:12:15 — Why the Therapy Industry Is Fundamentally Broken 00:20:05 — What Most Authors Get Wrong About Books 00:32:15 — Inside the Will Smith Memoir 00:37:45 — The Take on the Oscars Slap He's Never Shared 00:47:48 — The Biggest Lie About Happiness 00:50:29 — Why Wanting Happiness Makes You Less Happy 00:54:50 — Why Happiness Is the Wrong Question 01:03:41 — The Real Mechanism Behind All Self-Help 01:17:39 — "Ironically, He Gave a F*ck" 01:24:08 — Struggle Is Inevitable - Choose Your Struggles Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags: #MarkManson #SubtleArt #Purpose #AIStartup #MentalHealth #BookMarketing #SelfHelp #Entrepreneurship #CreatorEconomy #Divot #DivotPodcast #AITherapy #PersonalDevelopment #FounderStory #StartupLife

    #59: Mark Manson: 20 Million Books, an AI Startup, and Why Most Therapists Don't Actually Help

  4. Jul 22

    #58: Greg Isenberg on AI Co-Founders, the Multi-Preneur, and Why Anyone Can Build a Startup Now

    Greg Isenberg is the entrepreneur and AI strategist behind Late Checkout, a portfolio of AI-native businesses powered by agents and online communities. He founded FiveBuy, acquired by StumbleUpon, and built Islands, acquired by WeWork. Through Idea Browser, Greg's Letter, and the Startup Ideas Podcast, Greg has shared over 2,000 startup ideas with millions of followers and advised the world's largest brands on AI strategy. In this episode with Derek Andersen, Greg explains why AI is only as good as the context you feed it, how to find validated startup ideas through trend data rather than intuition, and why the age of the multi-preneur has arrived. He breaks down his ACP framework, the builder-distributor advantage, and how to build a business from scratch in 90 days. The conversation goes deeper into what it truly means to become AI-native, why 1,000 hours of practice separates those who win from those who don't, and the formative baseball rejection that taught Greg the hardest truth: not everything is in your control. Greg shows that when the gatekeepers are gone, creativity and distribution become the last real competitive advantage. Follow Greg - X (Twitter): https://x.com/gregisenbergFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners:Google for StartupsIf you’re building applications with generative media or considering it, Google just released brand-new technical guide. You can download it at https://goo.gle/genmediaguide Timestamps:00:01:52 — The $2/Hour AI Co-Founder00:03:21 — How to Find the Right Startup Idea00:07:38 — Why Your AI Keeps Giving You Bad Results00:11:26 — What AI Will Replace in the Next 18 Months00:14:46 — Why Creatives Win the Age of AI00:18:45 — The Age of the Multi-Preneur00:24:56 — The Builder-Distributor Advantage00:26:32 — How to Run a Startup on Autopilot00:30:30 — 3 Hours vs. 6 Months: What AI Changed00:33:06 — Why AI Just Killed the Startup Gatekeepers00:41:32 — The 1,000-Hour Rule to Master AI00:43:34 — Build a Business in 90 Days: The ACP Framework00:47:00 — The Rejection That Changed Everything00:55:12 — "He Helped Me" — On Legacy and Purpose Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#GregIsenberg #LateCheckout #MultiPreneur #AIStartup #AICoFounder #StartupIdeas #AIPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BuilderDistributor #VibeCode #StartupStrategy #BoringBusiness #AIAge #DivotPodcast

    #58: Greg Isenberg on AI Co-Founders, the Multi-Preneur, and Why Anyone Can Build a Startup Now

  5. Jul 15

    #57: Choose Rich’s Nick O’Neill on Cancer, Crypto, Going Viral & Building a Million-Dollar Brand

    Nick O’Neill is the entrepreneur, software developer, and creator behind Choose Rich, the provocative online character that transformed crypto commentary, luxury satire, and internet outrage into a media business generating millions of dollars a year. After one yacht post exploded to more than 45 million impressions, Nick discovered how attention spreads, how perception shapes reality, and how to build a business around internet culture. In this episode with Derek Andersen, Nick opens up about his Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis after nearly two years of unexplained symptoms, the mindset helping him face chemotherapy, and why he believes, “I’m basically a statistic.” He also shares how he intentionally turned internet hate into viral growth, what most creators misunderstand about attention, and why optimism is ultimately a choice. The conversation goes deeper into selling Bitcoin and Ethereum too early, engineering viral marketing stunts, overcoming panic attacks, separating real blockchain innovation from crypto speculation, and building a media company that generates millions. Nick shows that resilience is not pretending life is easy; it is choosing what defines you, making people smile, and making the most of every single day. Follow Nick - X (Twitter): https://x.com/chooserichFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners:Google for StartupsIf you’re building applications with generative media or considering it, Google just released brand-new technical guide. You can download it at https://goo.gle/genmediaguide Timestamps:01:43 - Nick Opens Up About His Cancer Diagnosis07:41 - “I’m Basically a Statistic”14:11 - What It Means to Say, “I Ran a Good Race”16:06 - How Choose Rich Became a Viral Business18:27 - The Yacht Post That Reached 45 Million People21:27 - The Viral Yacht Stunt That Fooled the Internet26:12 - Selling Ethereum at $11 and Bitcoin at $15032:26 - Why Crypto Adoption Is Happening Quietly44:24 - The Failure That Sent Nick to the Hospital48:45 - Why Cancer Did Not Define Him59:21 - How Nick Measures a Successful Life Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#NickONeill #ChooseRich #CancerJourney #HodgkinLymphoma #Chemotherapy #Optimism #Resilience #Entrepreneurship #GoingViral #ViralMarketing #ContentCreator #CreatorEconomy #Crypto #Bitcoin #DivotPodcast

    #57: Choose Rich’s Nick O’Neill on Cancer, Crypto, Going Viral & Building a Million-Dollar Brand

  6. Jul 8

    #56: Pixar’s Ed Catmull on Steve Jobs, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Up & Building Creative Teams

    Ed Catmull co-founded Pixar and helped build the creative engine behind some of the most beloved films of the last 30 years, including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up. Long before Pixar changed animation forever, Ed helped pioneer 3D computer graphics, build RenderMan, and partner with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter to create one of the most influential creative companies in history. In this episode with Derek Andersen, Ed reveals how Pixar really became Pixar: the 14-year path to making Toy Story possible, why Steve Jobs stayed out of the Braintrust, how Pixar protected creative honesty, and why getting the team right matters more than getting the idea right. He also shares lessons from Creativity Inc. on long-term thinking, failure, leadership, disagreement, and building a culture where the best ideas can survive. The conversation goes deeper into the stories behind Pixar’s success, from almost losing Toy Story 2 to choosing hard films like Ratatouille and Up when they did not look commercially obvious. Ed shows that Pixar’s real secret was not one perfect idea, one genius leader, or one lucky movie. It was a culture strong enough to turn impossible ideas into stories the world never forgets. Follow Ed - X (Twitter): https://x.com/edcatmullFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners:Google for StartupsGrab the new Google for Startups Future of AI report at https://goo.gle/futureofgenmedia Timestamps:01:39 - Why Great Companies Fail to Think Long-Term07:35 - Why VR, Oculus, and Tech Hype Got Ahead of Reality19:13 - The 14-Year Math Behind Toy Story24:57 - Why the Right Environment Creates Pioneers37:34 - Why Steve Jobs Let Pixar Publish Everything42:26 - Steve Jobs’ $54M Bet on Pixar44:53 - Why Great Teams Create Great Ideas54:20 - Why Pixar Did Not Call Every Mistake a Failure59:08 - Why Steve Jobs Stayed Out of Pixar’s Braintrust01:03:06 - Why Powerful Leaders Should Speak Last01:15:03 - How Pixar Made Steve Jobs a Billionaire01:21:15 - The Steve Jobs Transformation Most People Missed01:24:17 - Why Ed Catmull Believes He Is Wrong Half the Time01:33:10 - Ed Catmull Was Removed as Pixar President Twice01:37:27 - Why Creativity Inc. Was Really About Building Great Teams01:42:26 - How Pixar Almost Lost Toy Story 201:46:36 - How Pixar Became a Repeatable Creative Studio01:47:19 - Why Ratatouille and Up Should Not Have Worked01:49:13 - How Ed Catmull Measures a Good Life Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#pixar #stevejobs #edcatmull #toystory #creativityinc #pixarbraintrust #findingnemo #theincredibles #ratatouille #walle #up #creativeleadership #storytelling #innovation #divotpodcast

    #56: Pixar’s Ed Catmull on Steve Jobs, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Up & Building Creative Teams

  7. Jul 1

    #55: The Best Lessons From 50+ Divot Conversations | Special Recap

    After more than 50 episodes of Divot, Derek Andersen celebrates conversations that have inspired, educated, and reached millions. This special recap features Doug Leone, former Global Managing Partner at Sequoia Capital, the legendary venture firm behind Apple, Google, YouTube, Airbnb, WhatsApp, Stripe, and Nvidia; Justin Kan, the Twitch co-founder behind a nearly $1B Amazon exit; Charlie Rocket, the brain-tumor survivor who lost 120 pounds and became a Nike athlete; Marc Randolph, the Netflix co-founder and first CEO; and James Dumoulin, the School of Hard Knocks co-founder who built a 22M-follower media empire. You’ll also hear Guy Kawasaki, the former Apple evangelist and Canva chief evangelist; Tim Draper, the legendary venture capitalist known for Tesla, SpaceX, Skype, Hotmail, and Bitcoin; Liz Wiseman, the bestselling author of Multipliers and one of the top voices in leadership; Brandt Andersen, the Hollywood filmmaker and producer behind Lone Survivor, Everest, American Made, Silence, and I Was a Stranger; Tina Roth Eisenberg, the CreativeMornings founder who built a global movement around creativity; and Dave Bell, the creator behind Dave’s Auto Center and a voice for craftsmanship, faith, family, and legacy. In this special recap episode, Derek Andersen revisits the wisdom behind the journey: showing up before anyone is watching, taking risks before the outcome is clear, building through rejection, finding meaning beyond money, leading with humility, and keeping faith, values, family, and purpose at the center. These are the moments that capture the heart of Divot so far. Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners:Google for StartupsGrab the new Google for Startups Future of AI report at https://goo.gle/futureofgenmedia Timestamps:00:00 — The Wisdom Behind 50+ Divot Episodes01:05 — Celebrating More Than 50 Episodes of Divot02:18 — Doug Leone: The Discipline to Show Up03:52 — Justin Kan: Why Success Doesn’t Solve Everything06:02 — Charlie Rocket: The Winning Streak Mindset08:30 — James Dumoulin: When Rejection Becomes Fuel11:53 — Guy Kawasaki: Stop Trying to Be the Next Steve Jobs15:05 — Tim Draper: Ideas That Can Change the World17:57 — Liz Wiseman: How Great Leaders Actually Change20:50 — Marc Randolph: You’re Living the Good Old Days23:36 — Brandt Andersen: Why Hard Things Shape Us26:03 — Tina Roth Eisenberg: The Lost Art of Being Human28:08 — Dave Bell: Keep Your Feet Moving Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#DivotPodcast #DerekAndersen #Entrepreneurship #Founders #Leadership #StartupLessons #WorldClassBuilders #BusinessWisdom #PurposeDriven #FaithAndFamily #VentureCapital #Creators

    #55: The Best Lessons From 50+ Divot Conversations | Special Recap

  8. Jun 24

    #54: The Human Data Engine Training Smarter AI Models | Micro1 CEO

    Ali Ansari is the founder and CEO of Micro1, the human data engine helping AI labs train foundational models and enterprises build better AI agents. With more than 5M people screened, Micro1 provides expert data, frontier evaluations, reinforcement learning environments, and contextual agent evaluations for the next generation of AI systems. In this episode with Derek Andersen, Ali explains how large language models actually learn, why human judgment still drives AI progress, and why real-world company data may become one of the most valuable assets in the AI economy. He breaks down long-horizon tasks, compounding errors, post-training, AI agents, and the “infinite last mile” of intelligence. Ali also shares what it feels like to build at the center of the San Francisco AI boom, why AI will create new categories of high-value jobs, and how his journey from immigrating to the U.S. from Iran to building Micro1 shaped his founder mindset. This is a conversation about AI, human expertise, and embracing the chaos of a once-in-a-generation technology wave. Follow Ali - Instagram: https://x.com/aliansarinikFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners:Google for StartupsGrab the new Google for Startups Future of AI report at https://goo.gle/futureofgenmedia Timestamps:01:32 — Building Micro1 in the Center of the AI Boom06:57 — A Once-in-a-Lifetime AI Opportunity08:44 — How Micro1 Helps Train Smarter AI Models10:43 — Why AI Models Never Stop Learning14:56 — Why AI Still Needs Human Experts17:49 — The Model Is Not the Product21:23 — Who Wins and Loses in the AI Era27:25 — When AI Agents Become Team Members29:19 — The Talent War for AI Researchers33:38 — Why Your Company Data Is Training AI38:35 — From Iran to the American Dream44:33 — Why Taking a Unique Path Can Win48:04 — Embrace the Chaos49:50 — Why AI Will Create New Jobs53:02 — How Ali Measures His Life Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #AIData #AIAgents #MachineLearning #Startups #DivotPodcast

    #54: The Human Data Engine Training Smarter AI Models | Micro1 CEO
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5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Divot brings you weekly conversations with the people building the future—founders, creators, athletes, and visionaries pushing the limits of business, technology, sports, and entertainment. We go beyond success stories to explore the real moments that define a journey—the risks, the failures, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that can help you on your path. Stories of people making their mark, and how you can too. New episodes every Wednesday. #DivotPodcast #Business #Tech #Sports #Entertainment #Innovation

Information

  • Creator
    Derek Andersen
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Derek Andersen
  • Show Website
    Divot

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